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Dewan 30th Anniversary

Dewan Architects & Engineers is celebrating its Pearl Anniversary this year, having first established its inaugural office 30 years ago in Abu Dhabi in1984.
In these 30 years, Dewan has solidified its standing as one of the leading A&E firms in the region with a diverse number of accolades and successfully delivered projects. Our success is a result of the great team of 300 architects and engineers and supporting staff that make up Dewan, affectionality referred to as "Dewanees".

Today Dewan is active in numerous markets and with offices in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and the Philippines. The firm has successively been ranked as one of the top 50 design firms globally, and Top 3 regionally, by prestigious industry magazines likes Building Design Magazine, ENR, and Middle East Architect. We wish to thank our loyal clients , our partners, and all the talented men and women that make up this great firm.

Latest News

Dewan Runs for a cause in the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon

Dewan Runs for a cause in the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon

30 members of Dewan's staff have participated in the 2014 Dubai Standard Chartered Marathon, successfully completing running the 10 km race. Dewan was running for a great cause in support of the Iraq Orphan Foundation raising just under 30,000 AED for this very important cause.

Dewan Visual Arts Exhibition 2014

Dewan hosted its first Visual Arts Exhibition showcasing art created by Dewan's staff at the Art Sawa exhibition space. 14 artists were exhibiting different disciplines of art from graphic design and photography to paintings and charcoal drawings. The event attracted Dewan staff and their families, as well as partners, clients, and art lovers in Dubai.

All proceeds from the event have been donated to a charity helping needy families in refugee camps in the region.

Dewan participates in Cityscape

Dewan has participated at Cityscape Global, the Middle East's largest international real estate development and investment event, which is took place from 8-10 October 2013 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
The announcement came as the UAE construction industry continues to see a positive turnaround.

The country is witnessing massive investments from both public and private enterprises in the construction sector and the market, which was estimated at $39.4 billion (Dh144.6 billion) in 2012, is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of around 9.5 per cent until 2016.

The company - ranked 2nd in the Middle East and 49th Globally by the prestigious UK-based industry publication Building Design Magazine's - is expanding regionally and has undertaken numerous projects across the GCC region, growing its portfolio most notably in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Iraq.

Dewan at the big 5 conference discussing sustainable architecture

Dewan Architects & Engineers, one of the region's leading architectural and engineering consulting firms, explored the strategies and challenges entailed in balancing iconic local architecture with sustainable design at the largest international building and construction event in the Middle East - the Big-5 Sustainability Design and Construction Conference.

Invited to deliver a presentation at theBig-5 Sustainability Design and Construction Conference, Eng. Jaber, Architect & Sustainability Coordinator at Dewan, showcased the substantial energy savings the company had achieved through the innovative design of several of its landmark projects including a 33% saving at the Premier Inn Hotel at Abu Dhabi International Airport, a 20% saving at the Bateen School in the UAE, and a 25% saving at Samarra University in Iraq.

Sustainability is increasingly recognized as a priority in the region, as concerns grow about the looming threat of climate change and energy shortages. According to the most recent World Bank figures, the UAE is the planet's eighth biggest consumer of energy per person, expending 7,407 kg of oil equivalent per capita. This translates into a significant environmental impact: the country is the also world's eighth biggest per-capita emitter of carbon dioxide, its 9m inhabitants releasing almost 20 metric tone's each annually.

More strikingly still, in the 2012 Living Planet Report by the WWF, it was found to have the third-highest ecological footprint per-person in the world. Dawan's presentation explored a range of promising techniques in the design and construction of buildings to improve efficiency, cut waste, and minimize environmental damage. For example, it discussed how envelope insulation materials and systems can reduce up to 50% of energy consumption, while efficient landscaping, through soil enhancement products, can similarly cut irrigation demand in half.

Other technologies studied included lighting programmes and national initiatives, efficient MEP Technologies, and renewable energy sources. The presentation went on to examine how to fuse local cultural and social understanding together with modern design technologies to overcome climatic challenges and reduce energy consumption, drawing upon lessons learnt from iconic buildings around the region.

Mohamed Al Assam, Founder, Chairman and Managing Director of Dewan, said: "Too often, design aesthetics and sustainability are treated as somehow adversarial to each other; this is simply not true. The essence of great design is sustainability. It starts from the earliest planning phases and should be integrated at every stage, seamlessly assimilated into the surrounding local environment - that is what defines iconic architecture.

We are proud to say that sustainability is integral to every project at Dewan, which has enabled us to demonstrate clear and substantial energy savings at our landmark developments".

Dewan at the Construction Week conference

Three projects by Dewan Architects & Engineers, a regional and international leader in architecture and engineering design, are leading the way for sustainable construction in Abu Dhabi. Dewan's Executive Director adds: 'but there are tough challenges ahead for the wider industry to improve the UAE's excessive ecological footprint'.

That was message delivered by Dewan at the sixth Construction Week Sustainability Conference. Eng. Jaber, Architect & Sustainability coordinator at Dewan, discussed how the three projects - the Al Bateen Park Development, the Premier Inn Hotel and the ADEC Future Schools Programme were being successfully developed in accordance with Abu Dhabi's rigorous Estidama standards. These requirements were introduced two years ago to ensure that private firms operating in the region were committed to the region's four pillars of sustainability: environmental, economic, social, and cultural.

The Premier Inn Hotel, holding a 2 Pearl Estidama rating, is the first project in Abu Dhabi to implement an on-site water recycling network. The ADEC Future Schools Project has attained 2 and 3 Pearls, utilizing sustainable technologies including solar hot water and PV panels to achieve minimal water savings off 26% and energy savings of 26-30%.

The Construction Week Sustainability Conference brought together industry leaders from the public and private sectors to expound its underlying theme: making a commercial case for sustainability through new buildings and retrofitting existing developments in line with ecologically beneficial activities.

Mohamed Al Assam, Founder, Chairman and Managing Director of Dewan, said: "It is inexcusable that in the developed world, vast amounts of energy are wasted by poorly designed buildings which have had a deeply damaging ecological impact. Our responsibilities to our future generations oblige us to design the infrastructure of tomorrow in a way that minimizes resource consumption and disruption to the natural environment. That is an integral pillar of Dewan's philosophy – and we are proud of our pioneering approach towards delivering high-end Estidama projects which meet and surpass the standards rightly required in the region".

Citywalk is Open for Business!

The CityWalk Retail Development by Dubai-based real estate firm Meraas Development is situated in the prime residential neighborhood in Jumeirah, on Al Safa Road, between Al Wasl Road and the First Interchange of Sheikh Zayed Road. The Avenue encompasses 57 retail units, including a well-known branded anchor supermarket, various restaurants and coffee shops, as well as a healthcare clinic.

Covering a total built-up area of 12,800 m² on a plot of approximately 53,000 m², the project boasts extensive and attractive landscaping, water features and green spaces, resulting in an urban retail and leisure destination for the Jumeira community. The Avenue now named Citywalk was opened for the public late November.

Al Aqeeq

Dewan Architects & Engineers, a regional and international leader in providing architecture and engineering consultancy services, has confirmed its' progress on the design of the Al Aqeeq Real Estate Development Hotel project - the 15-storey, five-star hotel and residences complex which is set to become a landmark building in Riyadh, KSA.

Strategically located in a prime location between Makkah Al Mukarama Road and Takhassusi Street, the development comprises 318 guestrooms and 45 luxurious serviced apartments. Upon completion, guests and residents will enjoy facilities that include 5-star dining venues, leisure facilities such as a gym and spa, swimming pool areas, a kids' club, retail and coffee shops, and hairdressing services. Commercial guests will take advantage of a fully-equipped banquet hall that can seat a thousand people, supported by a business center and meeting rooms ideal for hosting conferences, banquets and exhibitions.

Commenting on Al Aqeeq Real Estate Development Hotel project, Mohamed Al Assam, Founder, Chairman and Managing Director of Dewan said, "As it has been since Dewan's inception, our mission is to be recognized for the exceptional quality of our work, both in terms of design and supervision of the construction. Al Aqeeq's inspirational design, both in form and function, makes it poised to be a new landmark in Riyadh without compromising on the usability of the building's spaces, nor on ecological sustainability. It is a building we can be proud to leave to future generations. This luxury hotel will be operated by an international 5-star hotel operator which will be announced in due time."

The Al Aqeeq Real Estate Development Hotel project is the latest in a line of signature ventures undertaken by Dewan in Saudi Arabia as it continues to strengthen its' position in the Kingdom with projects in Riyadh, Khobar and Jeddah. The country has enjoyed a boom over the last few years: its construction sector grew at an average of 10% in 2010-12, with signs of even greater acceleration in 2013.

Samarra

As a key player in the major reconstruction efforts of Iraq, Dewan Architects just been awarded the master planning and architectural design of a modern, green university campus in Samarra, North West of Baghdad.

The project site is about 2.6 sqm and should be developed with high energy efficient and sustainability standards, to house 20,000 students and faculty members. The campus will include 16 specialized colleges with state of the arts research centers and laboratories, university HQ and deanship building, conference hall, central library, students and faculty residences, social & cultural centers, sports facilities, mosque, agricultural farms and other service facilities.

Blue Bay Residences

'The Residence' is a unique architectural exercise to respond to the lively urban environment envisaged by the planners of Business Bay. It is positioned on one of the finest locations in Business Bay Dubai and is very close to the vibrant waterside environment planned in this area. The design is the outcome of a dynamic mix of functions displayed in simple and clean architectural masses seeking distinguishable presence in the surroundings.
The architecture of this tower is meant to emphasize with clean uninterrupted , smooth, flowing liner external features; the interior environment which is proposed to have light colours and clean horizontal lines with a lot of natural light penetrating the public areas from the well positioned tall glass on the external envelope. The overall contemporary theme of this project is not only distinctly defined but also celebrated throughout the external massing and the interior front of house spaces.

An active street front is created by providing a vibrant all day dining at the ground level focused on meeting the culinary needs of not only the apartment residents but also those of the surroundings & thus providing interest and activity at pedestrian road level. The street scape at this level is further enhanced by providing a lot of shaded spaces covered by projecting overhangs at appropriate locations.

The clean horizontal lines of the tower defines, creates and shelters the entrance auto court which is raised almost to the level of the adjacent vehicular bridge so that the entrance experience is not only unique, but also opens up an endless vista of open space above the adjacent bridge. The exterior garden created right in front of the main entrance door at this high level adds to the distinctive entrance experience. This auto court entry space is further defined by a feature wall which encloses a landscaped function area.

Leisure and lifestyle utilities such as a modern gymnasium, a swimming pool, Mini theatre & Spa offer residents a break/ recreation and the opportunity to recharge before facing another day. Additional facilities such as a fully dedicated kids club also add to the overall experience.

The building thus contributes to the quality of the entire urban environment.

Amity Tender Award

Located by the water's edge on a 5.7 ha site in Al-Bahya, Abu Dhabi The Amity International School is an educational institute with an innovative design that accommodates 3,000 students, ranging from Pre-Kindergarten to Year 13. The key project goals are to create an innovative premium international school which provides an inter-connected student focused campus conducive for student interaction. The master plan is designed with clear zoning between academic, sport and residential areas, to ensure proper passive security and safety of students and residents.

A hierarchy of spaces with clear circulation routes will guide users around the school and, for safety, pedestrian and vehicular routes around the site will be separated with designated routes to open play areas. Signature buildings like the main administration, auditorium and boathouse are detailed to resemble ship hulls on the shoreline.

The main entry is carefully articulated along the south of the site to indicate that one is entering the school, and play activity areas like the auditorium, sports hall, planetarium and swimming pool are all captured under one curved sweeping roof, a gesture that provides the school with a strong identity and grand feel.

AKH Tender Award

" Al-Abdulkareem Holding (AKH) is to construct a 36 storey building for its headquarters in Dammam Saudi Arabia. The design is expected to represent AKH's status as a world class organization" The layered juxtaposed volumes create an interesting composition of straight vs. tilted and solid vs. translucent. The clear glass portion of the tower marks the potential location of common floors and allows the AKH offices to be distinguished from the remaining lower offices.

Furthermore, the 4 storey parking and retail podium wraps around the volumes to create a landmark entrance visible from the adjacent main highway. Angled lines included in the podium will envelop the podium and continue upwards towards the tower in the form of ramps and other vertical circulation elements, allowing the podium to be more than just an additional element, but rather an integral part of the tower's design.

PROJECT IN BRIEF

REPTON SCHOOL

Repton School

Site works are now full completed on this project in Abu Dhabi and the school has welcomed its first students in September of 2013. Repton Foundation School consists of a two story main building which contains classrooms on the ground floor for KG 1&2 and 12 classrooms on the first floor for Grade 1, as well as a service block. It is located on a 6,867 sq.m plot in a prime location on the developing Reem Island which is accessible via bridges linking it to Abu Dhabi, Sowwah and Saadiyat Islands.

The site, as well as most surrounding plots, is owned by Sorouh. The school is operated by Evolvence and all areas on the site are designed for private use by students, parents and staff only. The site is gated and contains a single controlled entry and exit point in order to ensure that only designated individuals are allowed access to the school grounds.

The One Tower

After a brief period of suspension of works, the project has now resumed and work is progressing on The One Tower, a prestigious commercial tower of G+47 floors with four basement floors. Concrete work has been completed and finishing with aluminum cladding already finished up to 32nd floor. The percentage of completion reached around 82%, and the expected completion date will be end of 2013.

The project has a distinctive architectural design that responds to the unique urban context envisaged by the master-planners of the TECOM Zone C District.. The One Tower showcases a dynamic mix of functions displayed in a simple and clean architectural design. State of the art commercial units and retail showrooms dominate the tower, while the top two floors are dedicated to a self-contained owner's duplex penthouse.

It enjoys one of the finest locations in TECOM, facing Dubai's busiest street, Sheikh Zayed Road, the energy of which has inspired the design of this striking tower. The contemporary design visually appears as two dominating masses held together by a series of decorative steel truss elements, which symbolizes the perpetual state of activity associated with modern day business in the Emirates.

Al Reziza Tower

Dewan's Saudi office teams of site staff are supervising the construction of the prestigious Al Reziza Tower in Al Khobar. The concrete pile works have been completed. 75% of the total excavation work has been completed (up to formation level which is -9.5 to -12.0 m out of the total excavation which is 20,000 m3). Dewatering is going on to keep the area dry for work.

The commercial building has a total built-up area of 18,000 sqm and consists of retail outlets on the ground and mezzanine floors, parking on two basements and four upper mezzanine podium floors and 28 storeys of premier commercial office space. Conveniently located on the Khobar-Dammam road, Al Reziza Tower is envisaged to be an architectural landmark of the region.

Malathak Towers

Site works are progressing on this project in Riyadh in Saudi Arabia. Malathak project consists of two towers. One of the towers is residential, composed of 18 floors 10 flats each. In addition to two swimming pools and a gym on the 18th floor, and the parking that accommodates 750 parking spaces.

The second tower is dedicated to office spaces on 29 typical floors in addition to one mechanical floor. Concrete works for the basement raft are completed for the first tower, while in the second tower, concrete works for the basement ceiling slab are completed.

SUCCESS STORIES

Ranking & Awards

Building Design Magazine 2014 Ranking

Dewan has received top honors from the prestigious UK industry publication Building Design Magazine for the fifth consecutive year. Dewan was ranked 3rd for top architectural firms in the Middle East and 50th globally on the magazine's World Architecture 100 list, which profiles the world's largest architectural practices. Dewan was also ranked top 10 in the categories of hospitality, urban design and heritage.

The rankings are part of an annual survey commissioned by Building Design ˗ a publication widely recognized as architects' number one destination for news, comment and opinion of more than 2,000 firms worldwide, which are evaluated and ranked based on presence in the sector and region, as well as on the number of architects employed.
The annual World Architecture 100 list is described as "the definitive survey in its field". In addition to the above achievements, the firm was also ranked:

The summary of Dewan ranking this year is as follows:

World Top 100 List: No. 50th

Middle East Ranking: No. 3rd

Africa Ranking: No. 10th

Hospitality Ranking: No. 3rd

Heritage Ranking: No. 3rd

Urban Design Ranking: No. 10th

BUILDING SITES

Premiere Inn Hotel & Retail Corridor

Premiere Inn Hotel & Retail Corridor

Site works are now completed for this strategically located business hotel near Abu Dhabi airport and Abu Dhabi's first airport hotel is now open for business and accepting guests from around the world.

Premier Inn is positioned on one of the busiest locations of the ADIA precinct, just across the street from the Terminal 3. The Design of this building is the outcome of a careful mix of hotel functions displayed in simple and clean architectural masses seeking distinguishable presence in the surroundings.

Sustainable design is yet another feature of the project. The building has been designed to carry an Estidama Sustainable compliance credential demonstrating the efforts done by the stakeholders to share the environmental responsibilities towards the surroundings and beyond.

The Building Completion Certificate(s) are now issued for these school projects in Abu Dhabi, and the buildings are handed over successfully and occupied by students and faculty alike. The project is composed of three buildings in 3 separate locations: Al-Yahar KG, Zakher KG And Al-Jimi KG.

The three buildings have a total built-up area of around 4,800 m² each with a service block of around 90 m² each. Each building is composed of three main break out area with different finishing and 18 classrooms, main administration area, Library and Multipurpose Hall.

The buildings were executed with high quality finishing, and have been designed and executed according Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council (Estidama Requirements).

SHATT AL ARAB HOTEL

Dewan Architects have recently finished all the design stages of Shatt Al Arab 5-star Hotel project and site works are well in progress. The project is located in a prime location on Shatt Al Arab in Al Basra, covering a plot area of 64100 sqm. The proposed design aims to create a unique hospitality environment based on local traditional architectural flavor with contemporary interpretation, and it is anticipated that it shall be a landmark project within Basra and will position itself as one of the primary hospitality/residential developments in the area.